Stunning horticultural displays are ready to dazzle in the heart of old town Niagara-on-the-Lake, and NC staff and students will be a part of the action.
The second weekend in May marks the second annual Niagara-on-the-Lake in Bloom event, presented by Vintage Hotels. The floral and garden show celebrates springtime beauty in Niagara-on-the-Lake with unique floral installations throughout the town, a boutique vendor fair, presentations from gardening experts – including two NC professors – in the Gardens at Pillar and Post, culinary events, workshops, and more.
Leading NC’s participation is Dena Gavin, Professor in the School of Environment and Horticulture – and a graduate of NC’s Horticulture Technician program, as well as Niagara Parks – who has been involved in planning and organizing some of the event displays such as selfie stations and butterflies at the Pillar and Post.
Among the large-scale floral installations and walkable displays across Old Town, will be a “living teacup” which NC students helped create.
Staff and student technicians from the NC Teaching Greenhouse built the “living teacup” display, while a class of Horticulture Technician students assisted with the display’s mice characters. Adorned with dried floral arrangements, the mice were created during a workshop with Jennifer Holmes, the head florist for Vintage Inns, during Gavin’s Architectural Green Spaces class.
Following the event, Gavin noted that the teacup will be placed on the main street outside the Prince of Wales Hotel for the summer, featuring signage identifying it as a NC student project.
“To have the students involved in this is unbelievable, because it’s not an experience you’ll get anywhere else,” Gavin stated. “When you’re a student and you can tell your family, ‘Hey, look what I did’ on the main street of town, the repayment on that effort is huge.”
Horticulture Technician students create mice characters for a Niagara-on-the-Lake in Bloom display. The workshop took place during their Architectural Green Spaces class.
Faculty experts take the stage
Gavin and Paul Zammit, Professor in the School of Environment and Horticulture, will return to the NOTL in Bloom Speaker Series stage this year – among a lineup that includes Frankie Flowers, Elise Gasbarrino Style Canada fashion show, John Mitchell from the Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh, as well as industry experts from NEOB Lavendar, Niagara Parks, Vintage Hotels and more.
Gavin and Zammit are lined up for two presentations at the Gardens at Pillar and Post: Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9 at 4:30 p.m.
On May 8, the duo will demonstrate techniques for designing mixed-season planters. On May 9, their presentation will focus on the relationship between plants, mental health, and the environment. The presentations highlight the differing horticultural perspectives of the two professors: Zammit’s focus on sustainable, natural landscapes and Gavin’s experience with the formal aesthetic of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
“It is very exciting to be able to engage with the public to remind them as always about the positive power of plants,” said Zammit. “Dena has once again created an amazing opportunity for us to raise awareness about the College.”
Gavin and Zammit were also among featured speakers for the event 2025 NOTL in Bloom event.
Don’t miss the NC Teaching Greenhouse
Staff and students from the Teaching Greenhouse were were not only involved with the teacup display, they will set up shop with a retail booth among vendors (the Gardens at Pillar and Post) throughout the four-day event. Visitors will have a chance to purchase NC-grown plants and interact with staff and students from the Teaching Greenhouse.
“I think it is a great opportunity for our little greenhouse garden centre space to get a lot of publicity and hopefully direct traffic during the busiest time of year for us,” said Grounds and Greenhouse Operations Manager Matt Orr who will be at the booth throughout the weekend along with staff and students.
Deep rooted industry connections
This is Gavin’s second year participating in the NOTL in Bloom festival. Her involvement in stems from her 30-year history with Dawland Farms and Landscaping, which provides landscaping for Vintage Inns. She began working with Dawland as a student intern with Niagara Parks and continues working with the company. She noted that the company currently employs eight NC Horticulture graduates, many of whom worked with Gavin to build the floral butterfly installations and a “selfie station” located at the front entrance of the Pillar and Post.
NC alumni Ceydi Unricho and Divya Dinesan, who now work for Dowland Farms and Landscaping, help create the butterfly displays at the Pillar and Post.
Event info
For details, schedules and ticket information about Niagara-on-the-Lake in Bloom, visit vintage-hotels.com/promotion/niagara-on-the-lake-in-bloom/.
